Mood swings during period

Periods may feature with many different changes and they generally vary among women. Some women predominantly experience physical symptoms and signs such as stomach cramps, stomach bloating, pain in breasts or breast tenderness, body aches etc. while others have to deal with psychological changes and suffer from mood swings. This can be a nightmare for the woman and people surrounding her particularly right before and during menstruation.

What Causes Mood Swings during Period?

It is essential to mention the role of hormones and their influence on mood changes. Both female hormones, progesterone and estrogen control the level of serotonin (a brain neurotransmitter) in the brain. This neurotransmitter regulates one's mood and if there is sufficient or even more serotonin a person feels happy and ecstatic while lack of serotonin diminishes all its positive effects and one starts to feel low and depressed. During menstruation the level of progesterone and estrogen changes hence the explanation of mood swings.

Furthermore, stress is another contributor to mood swings during period. Today women are way too busy and apart from being under stress at work they also have to perform many duties at home. This increases the amount of stress they are exposed to and is the reason why contemporary women suffer from a variety of premenstrual syndrome symptoms and mood swings are only some of them.

Managing Mood Swings during Period

Some women suffering from mood swings may benefit from flaxseed. This is not a cure but it can efficiently help a woman reduce the intensity of mood swings. St. John's Wort is a herb that is used by many women with intensive symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. The herb is supposed to be taken two weeks before the period and until the termination of the menses. But before using any of the mentioned a woman should first consult her health care provider.

Mood swings during period may be reduced with the assistance of certain vitamin supplements such as vitamin B6 and calcium supplements. But if the diet is rich in all essential nutrients, one consumes foods rich in B6 and the calcium intake is optimal, there may be no need for supplements at all. Optimal intake of vitamin C is also beneficial. This vitamin can be found in citrus fruits as well as peppers, cranberry juice and cantaloupe.

Physical activity is a powerful means for reduction of stress and managing mood swings. Additional help is obtained from yoga, meditation and breathing exercises. And finally, a woman who has severe mood swings is supposed to socialize, spend more time with her friends and family. This way she will easily overcome mood swings and deal with them.